University of Utah Research Foundation

Other

Ambre Energy Limited

Jan D Miller

Xuming Wang

Ye Yi

Wlodzimierz W Zmierczak

Yi Ye

Qiang Yu

Alex G Oblad

Francis V Hanson

Jan Hupka

Michael B Mooiman

Yue Lin

Spiro D Alexandratos

John A Herbst

Rong-Yu Wan

George Simkovich

Minhua Li

Juan Luis Jimenez

Jaime E Sepulveda

Milton E Wadsworth

John L Kolbe

Howard Wayne Hayden

David J Kinneberg

Qinyu Zhu

Woo-Hyuk Jang

Saskia Duyvesteyn

Gustavo A Munoz

Robert Aranowski

Phanindra Kodali

Chen-Luh Lin

Edward Choros

Nicholas Drinnan

Steven Messiter

Raj Rajamani

Jin Liu

Jin Lin

A composite solid electrolyte () for lithium batteries can include a solid polymer (), a lithium salt () distributed in the solid polymer (), and lithium iron phosphate () distributed in the solid polymer (). A solid state lithium battery cell () can include a composite solid electrolyte layer (), an anode () containing lithium in contact with a first surface of the composite solid electrolyte layer (): and a cathode () in contact with a second surface of the composite solid electrolyte layer (). The composite solid electrolyte layer () can include a solid polymer (), a lithium salt () distributed in the solid polymer (), and lithium iron phosphate () distributed in the solid polymer ().

Solid state battery cell having a composite solid electrolyte including lithium iron phosphate

A cathode () for use in a lithium-air battery can include a polymer binder () having a conductive material (), phyllosilicate nanoparticles (), a lithium salt (), and a metal catalyst () distributed in the polymer binder (). The cathode () can be porous to allow oxygen to diffuse from surrounding air into the cathode (). A lithium-air battery can include a lithium metal anode, a solid electrolyte in contact with the lithium metal anode, and a cathode () in contact with the solid electrolyte. The cathode () can have a polymer binder () as a support matrix. The polymer binder () can be porous to allow oxygen to diffuse from surrounding air into the cathode (). The cathode () can include the polymer binder (), a conductive material (), phyllosilicate nanoparticles (), a lithium salt (), and a metal catalyst () distributed in the polymer binder ().

Cathodes for use in lithium-air batteries

A composite solid electrolyte () for lithium batteries can include a solid polymer (), phyllosilicate nanoparticles () distributed in the solid polymer, and a lithium salt () distributed in the solid polymer. In one example, the composite solid electrolyte can be used in a solid state lithium battery cell () made up of composite solid electrolyte, an anode () containing lithium in contact with a first surface of the composite solid electrolyte, and a cathode () in contact with a second surface of the composite solid electrolyte.

Composite solid electrolytes for lithium batteries

A method of reacting compounds can include directing a liquid into a helical constrained flow () having an inner circumferential flow surface and an outer circumferential flow surface. The helical constrained flow () can be formed around an axial interior volume (). At least a portion of the helical constrained flow can be exposed to a sparging portion () to allow a fluid to be sparged into the liquid along the helical constrained flow (). The fluid reactant can be sparged through the helical constrained flow so as to form a fluid product.

Fluid-sparged helical channel reactor and associated methods

A method for making an agglomerate of an ore is disclosed. The method comprises contacting the ore with an acid solution and a stucco binder. The stucco binder may include calcium sulfate hemihydrate. The ore agglomerate may include ore, acid solution, and stucco-derived gypsum.

Methods for agglomerating ores

A spinning fluids reactor, includes a reactor body () having a circular cross-section and a fluid contactor screen () within the reactor body (). The fluid contactor screen () having a plurality of apertures and a circular cross-section concentric with the reactor body () for a length thus forming an inner volume () bound by the fluid contactor screen () and an outer volume () bound by the reactor body () and the fluid contactor screen (). A primary inlet () can be operatively connected to the reactor body () and can be configured to produce flow-through first spinning flow of a first fluid within the inner volume (). A secondary inlet () can similarly be operatively connected to the reactor body () and can be configured to produce a second flow of a second fluid within the outer volume () which is optionally spinning.

Spinning fluids reactor

Processes for conversion of lignin to products such as phenolic compounds and biofuels prepared from such phenolic compounds are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking. A variety of useful bio-fuels such as fuels, fuel additives, and the like, including gasoline and jet or rocket fuels are describe which can be readily produced from renewable lignin materials in an improved conversion process.

Processes for catalytic conversion of lignin to liquid bio-fuels and novel bio-fuels

A composition of and method for forming activated carbon with magnetic properties for magnetic separation of the activated carbon from a liquid being treated is disclosed wherein a solution iron magnetic precursor is intimately mixed or absorbed into a porous carbon precursor or mixed with a solution or meltable carbon precursor to form an essentially homogeneous mixture or solution that when dried and pyrolized forms activated carbon particles with magnetic material evenly dispersed throughout the activated carbon material. The activated carbon particles may be of fine particle size, even powdered, and still retain magnetic properties sufficient for magnetic separation. In a particular aspect of the invention, a carbon precursor of soft wood is soaked in a solution of a ferric salt, dried, pyrolized and activated.

Magnetic activated carbon particles for adsorption of solutes from solution

Processes for conversion of lignin to liquid products such as bio-fuels and fuel additives are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking. A variety of useful bio-fuels such as fuels, fuel additives, and the like, including gasoline and jet or rocket fuels are describe which can be readily produced from renewable lignin materials in an improved conversion process.

A method of synthesizing and reacting compounds in a cyclone reactor () is disclosed and described. A liquid carrier can be provided which can include solid catalyst particles, liquid catalysts, and/or liquid reactants. The liquid carrier can be formed into a swirl layer () within the cyclone reactor (). A reactant composition including at least one reactant can also be injected through at least a portion of the swirl layer () such that at least a portion of the reactant is converted to a reaction product. The cyclone reactor () allows for improved contact of reactants and catalyst, with fine temperature control, thus increasing reaction yields and selectivity

Cyclone reactor and associated methods

Selective flotation of phosphate minerals with hydroxamate collectors

A froth flotation method is disclosed for separating fine particles of fossil resin from by use of frothing reagents which include an aliphatic organic compound having a polar group and containing not more than four carbon atoms. Butanol is an effective frothing reagent in this method.

Surface chemistry control for selective fossil resin flotation

A process for recovering molybdenite from feed materials containing copper sulfide and molybdenite (e.g. copper/molybdenum concentrates from flotation processes) wherein the feed material is treated with ozone and then floated to recover molybdenite.

Molybdenite flotation from copper sulfide/molybdenite containing

A method for separating ash and sulfur (including pyritic sulfur) contaminants from coal in a flotation process. The method comprises the steps of grinding the coal to small particlate size, forming a slurry of the ground coal and mixing the slurry with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of peroxy compounds, peroxides and superoxides the preferred compound being oxone which is a mixture of potassium monopersulfate, potassium hydrogen sulfate and potassium sulfate. This slurry is allowed to react to condition the particulate coal and develop increased hydrophobicity for the coal while depressing the sulfur contaminants and ash during froth flotation.

Chemical conditioning of fine coal for improved flotation and pyrite

disclosed is a process for separating resin from a mixture of resin-bearing coal particles by increasing the pH of a froth flotation process to a value of at least 12. Particles of reduced size resin-bearing coal are preferably mixed with water to from a slurry. The pH of the slurry is then adjusted with a chemical agent to about 12. The slurry is then subjected to froth flotation. The coal particles aggregate to one another allowing the remaining resin-rich particles to attach to the bubbles formed during the flotation process. A much improved separation efficiency for resin flotation from coal is observed.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Jan D Miller